(Radio Iowa) Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s nomination to be U-S Ag Secretary is moving to the full Senate after an Ag Committee hearing today (Tuesday) on his second stint in the job.”It’s not lost on me ironically that this is Ground Hog Day and I realize that I am back again,” Vilsack says,”but I also realize that this is a fundamentally different time — I am a different person and it is a different department. And we have to recognize that.”

Vilsack in his opening statement said there are some key areas he has to address — including fixing what he says are inequalities, unfairness and discrimination in farm programs. “Where there is zero tolerance for discrimination, where programs actually open up opportunity for all who need help. And lift the burden of persistent poverty for those most in need,” according to Vilsack. He says openness and competitiveness in trade needs to be addressed.

“I think we want to provide advice and counsel and direction and efforts to try to look at additional free trade agreements,” he said. Vilsack says he will also have to address climate change and food insecurity. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst asked Vilsack how the president’s executive order that government vehicles should be electric will impact biofuels like ethanol produced in Iowa. Vilsack says there is room for both.

“I think we look for expanded opportunities in a variety of different ways. At the same time, I think we recognize that there will be more and more electric vehicles that will be utilitized in the country — and we also recognize that’s going to require energy — where does that energy come from,” Vilsack asked. “I think there are opportunities within rural America to promote rural renewable energy .” The Renewable Fuels Standard or R-F-S which sets the amount of renewable fuels required in the country expires in 2022. Ernst asked Vilsack about his support for continuing the measure.

“What will you do in your capacity to make sure we get this done. Get the renewal of the R-F-S done when we are facing near-unanimous support among Democrats when it comes to electric vehicles.” Ernst asked. Vilsack says he will talk with the president about the need for different types of vehicles.

“The reality is that General Motors and Ford and all of those other care companies, they are not going to stop producing cars with combustion engines, they are not going to stop that process,” according to Vilsack. “So we need an alternative fuel source in addition to, and to complement our efforts on the electric. I don’t see why we can’t have both over a long period of time. We are going to need both.” Vilsack served as U-S Ag Secretary for eight years in the Obama administration.

(Radio Iowa) – Especially during the wintertime, some Iowans like to feed the ducks and geese in parks and nearby ponds, but one expert implores — don’t. Orrin Jones, a waterfowl biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says when we toss bread and other treats to our feathered friends, it’s teaching them to become dependent on us.  “We want to encourage them to find food on their own,” Jones says. “These birds are migratory in nature and it’s very important that they go and distribute, and finding food is part of that migratory process.”

As we’ve all learned during the past pandemic year, sometimes being in close proximity to one another is a bad thing, and the same goes for birds, which will cluster around when there’s free food. Jones says, “It’s important not to concentrate them more than they would naturally from a disease prevention perspective.” One of the biggest problems with feeding ducks and geese is that, while well-intentioned, it could be a critical mistake for the health of the birds.

“They really need to find natural foods to get a wide range of items in their diet to satisfy their nutritional needs,” Jones says. “Human food is oftentimes detrimental and can even be dangerous to these birds so you might actually be harming them by feeding them.” Geese are quite plentiful in Iowa right now, particularly in urban communities, as there are several groups mingling at once, those that live here year-round and those that are migrating.

Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller reports, last weekend, January 23, 2021, FFA members Dylan Comes, Logan Eilts, Wyatt Redinbaugh, Cooper Jipsen and Daniel Freund traveled to the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa to attend the Amplify Leadership Conference. Members from all over Iowa attended the conference, which taught them about leadership and student development. AMPLIFY Conference focuses on student development. Every year, the conference rotates between two themes: Vision and Purpose.

Front Row Left to right
Dylan Comes, Logan Eilts, Wyatt Redinbaugh
Back Row Left to right
Cooper Jipsen and Daniel Freund. (Courtesy Eric Miller)

AMPLIFY Conference theme for 2021 was “Vision: See. Believe. Achieve.” FFA members examined the importance of having a vivid vision. During the workshop FFA members discovered personal passions and talents to help shape a clearer vision of their future. They created a detailed vision of who (not just what) they want to be in life. This type of leadership development will build a sense of self-confidence and winning mentality. Each member then established a strategy to reach for their declared vision and ended the day by summarizing the value of accountability in reaching their vision. “They taught you how to interact with others and how to see other people’s views,” said Eilts. Other chapter member Freund said “I learned how to be a leader and how to set good goals.”

Eric Miller said, “This was the first leadership conference our students were allowed to participate in this school year. These conferences are important to help develop the kind of leaders that we need in our school and community. I am glad the Iowa FFA provides us with the opportunity and the students are so willing to give their time to become better leaders.” The members that attended the conference enjoyed their time. Jipsen said “I liked meeting new people.” Comes also said “I enjoyed the activities, and hanging out with the other members from our chapter.” All around everybody had a good time and would recommend going again. ‘I would recommend, for one they feed you and they feed you well, and you get to meet a lot of people, you really did learn a lot,” said Redinbaugh.